Strip coiling apparatus



M- H. BURSK STRIP COILING APPARATUS Dec. 13, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledFeb. 17, 1965 M Ma,

Dec. 13, 1966 Filed. Feb. 17. 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

MAX H 5095K wan W, M 7" m/ 0 Dee. H3, 1966 M. H. BUREK 3,291,415

STRIP COILING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 17, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

M/qX H 54/251! 6m M m $144 114,

,4 TTOFA/fKS' Dec. 13, 1966 M. H. BURSK 3,291,415

STRIP COILING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 1'7, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 dldlglldPatented Dec. 13, 1966 fire 3,291,415 S'iRllF tCfllllLlNG APPARATUS;

Max H. Bnrslr, Fribourg, Switzerland, assignor to Lee WilsonEngineering, A., Fribourg, Switzerland Filed Feb. 17, 1965, Ser. No.433,421 Claims. (Cl. 2423) This invention relates to apparatus forprocessing and handling coils of strip metal.

In the open coil process of treating strip metal in coil form a tightwound coil of metal strip is recoiled into open or loose coil form inwhich the laps of the coil are spaced apart from each other. This opencoiling operation is customarily effected by recoiling a tight woundcoil of metal on a vertical axis turntable while winding in between thelaps of the coil a spacer strand of the proper size to give the desiredlap spacing.

After an open coil of strip is subjected to the desired treatment it isusually necessary to rewind the open coil back into tight coil form forfurther handling and processing. The apparatus of the present inventiongreatly expedites and simplifies the handling of untreated tight coilsof strip metal prior to and during open coiling thereof and expeditesand simplifies the recoiling of a treated open coil back into tight coilform and the subsequent tilting of the tight coil into horizontal axisposition for further handling.

The apparatus of the present invention is also adapted to receivehorizontal axis coils of strip from a conveyor and rapidly andaccurately locate and support them in horizontal axis position for payoff to a temper mill or other strip processing apparatus.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedapparatus for processing and handling coils of strip metal whicheliminates certain coil lifting operations, by magnets or other liftingdevices, required by prior mechanisms, thus substantially reducing thecoil handling time and eliminating the coil up-ending devices which arepresently required to tilt the coils from horizontal axis to verticalaxis position and vice versa.

Other objects include the provision of strip coil handling apparatuswhich does not require the use of separate coil up-ending devices suchas have previously been employed to tilt the coils from horizontal axisposition to vertical axis position and vice versa; and the provision ofstrip coil processing and handling apparatus whereby the output of atight or open coil strip processing installation may be increased, theoperating costs reduced, and the possibility of damage to the edges ofthe strip in the coils greatly reduced.

For the achievement of the aforementioned objects the coiler apparatusof the present invention, broadly speaking, embodies a frame membermounted for pivotal movement, a pair of rotatable mandrels operablymounted on this frame member, means for rotating the mandrels on theframe, and means for pivoting the frame member in conjunction with themandrels. More specifically, the frame member is mounted for pivotingabout a substantially horizontal axis of rotation and rotatably supportsa coil support or turntable at each end, a collapsible and expandablemandrel being associated with each turntable for rotation therewith,said mandrels in some cases being of different sizes to permit payingoff of coils of one core size and winding on of coils of another coresize to prevent coil breaks in the strip metal after it has beenannealed. Furthermore, coil infeed and outfeed conveyor means areprovided which cooperate with coil hoist means for applying and removingcoils to and from, respectively, the aforesaid mandrels when the framemember is pivoted into corresponding selected positions.

Other features, objects and advantages of the inven' tion Will becomeapparent by reference to the following detailed description and drawingswherein like reference numerals are employed in the various embodimentsfor the same or analogous elements and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of apparatus embodying the presentinvention designed particularly for use in the open coil process andincluding the coil conveying and lifting equipment associated therewith;

FIGURE 2 is a view, partially in cross-section, of the coiler apparatusdepicted in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a plan view, partly in horizontal crosssection, of asomewhat modified form of my apparatus also designed particularly foruse with open coils.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating in greater detailthe clutch mechanism between the turntables and the drive means of theapparatus of FIG- URES 2 or 3.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective View of a modified form of my invention whichis particularly designed for transferring horizontal axis tight coilsfrom a conveyor into position for feeding the strip to a rolling milland rotat ably supporting the coil during pay-off to the mill.

Referring now to the drawings, with particular attention to theembodiment of FIGURES 1 and 2, it will be seen that tightly wound coils1 are delivered from a suitable supply depot (not shown) into closeproximity with the coiler unit (which is generally indicated by thereference character 3) by suitable infeed conveyor means such as thechain conveyor 2. A coil hoist car 4, having wheels 5 adapted to travelupon rails or tracks 6 and actuated by suitable means such as ahydraulic cylinder (not shown), is adapted to be moved beneath theforwardmost infed tight coil 1 into a position to raise the latter offthe conveyor 2. The coil hoist platform 7 of the coil hoist car 4 can beraised by means of a hydraulic cylinder 8 in order to lift theforwardmost coil 1 into a position such that its open center or eye isin alignment with the collapsible and expandable pay off mandrel 9 whensuch is disposed in horizontal axis position, as will be more fullyexplained hereinafter.

A similar coil outfeed chain conveyor means 29 is located at adiametrically opposed location from the previously described coil infeedconveyor 2. Here again, a coil hoist car 10, incorporating a coil hoistplatform 11 adapted to be raised and lowered by a hydraulic cylinder 12,is associated with the conveyor means 29. This coil hoist car 10includes wheels 13 which travel upon the rails 14 and the car may bemoved on the rails by a hydraulic cylinder or other suitable means (notshown). As will be explained more fully later, the outfeed conveyor 29receives annealed coils 1b from the expandable and collapsible mandrel15 of the coiler unit 3 and extends in the opposite direction from theinfeed conveyor 2.

It is advantageous to provide a larger diameter mandrel for windingannealed strip metal back into a tight coil in order to prevent coilbreaks that may occur if the original size mandrel is employed. For thisreason the tight-rewinding mandrel 15 is preferably larger in diameterthan the pay off mandrel 9. By way of example but not limitation, inapparatus for coiling strip steel the pay off mandrel 9 may have adiameter of 24 inches while the tight winding mandrel may have adiameter of 36 inches.

Without considering at this point the details of the construction of thecoiler unit 3, it should be appreciated that the expandable mandrels 9and 15 can be rotated, for example in opposite directions, by a drivemotor 16. This motor has a brake 17 effective on the outer end of itsshaft and is connected to the mandrels 9 and 15 through a coupling 13, agear reducer 19, a further coupling 20, shaft 23 and suitable gear andcluch mechanisms located within the housing 21 of the coiler 3 and whichwill be described in detail shortly. It should further be appreciatedthat the coiler unit 3 is so constructed that the expandable andcollapsible mandrels 9 and 15 can be simultaneously swung or rotatedabout the extended center line of shaft 23 in a substantially verticalplane from the vertically extending positions shown in the drawings intohorizontally extending positions and returned to vertical position.

The operation of the apparatus of FIGURES 1, 2 and 3 will now beexplained. Let it be assumed that the coiler unit 3 has been rotatedfrom the vertical axis position of FIGURE 1 into its horizontal positionwith the axes of the mandrels 9 and 15 extending horizontally and withthe smaller diameter mandrel 9 collapsed and in position to receive anunannealed cold rolled coil of strip steel 1 from the coil hoist car 4.To effect transfer of the coil to mandrel 9 the hoist car 4 is moved onthe tracks 6 so that the center opening in coil 1 is moved over themandrel 9 until the end of the coil is adjacent the turntable 37 of thecoiler 3. The hoist platform 7 is then lowered and at the same time themandrel 9 is expanded, thereby securing the coil in place on themandrel. Thereafter, the coiler 3 is rotated 90 in the direction of thearrow in FIGURE 1 into vertical position with the mandrel 9 extendingupwardly as seen in FIGURE 1. The tight coil 1 may then be payed offonto a suitable loose coil turntable (not shown) to produce a loose oropen coil ready for further treatment. The loose coil turntable andancillary equipment have not been shown since details thereof are notnecessary to understanding, and form no part of, the present invention.

After paying off of the tight wound coil 1 from mandrel 9 has beencompleted the coiler 3 is rotated 180 (the hoist cars 4 and 10 havingbeen backed out of the way) to bring the larger diameter mandrel intoupstanding vertical operating position to accept for tight rewinding thestrip from a treated loose or open coil which has been placed on anadjacent loose coil turntable (which as noted above is not shown in thedrawings). It will be understood that it is possible to use the coilerunit 3 with only a single loose coil turntable, but it is preferable toprovide two loose coil turntables in order to permit better continuityin operation.

The outer end of the strip of the open coil which is on the loose coilturntable is fed into suitable gripper means (not shown but which may beof any well known type) 011 the larger diameter mandrel 15 and the opencoil is then tight wound onto the mandrel 15 by means of the drive motor16. When the end of the coil being thus rewound is reached, the coiler 3is rotated 90 in the direction of the arrow in FIGURE 1 to bring themandrel 15 into a position such that the tight wound treated coillocated thereon is directed towards the exit or delivery side of thecoiler assembly, i.e., towards the delivery or outfeed conveyor 29. Thecoil hoist car 10 is moved into proper position beneath the coil on themandrel 15 and the platform 11 is raised by the hydraulic cylinder 12 soas to contact the coil, the mandrel 15 then being collapsed so that theplatform 11 supports the coil.

This coil is then moved by the coil hoist car 10 off of the nowhorizontal mandrel 15 to a position above the conveyor means 29 andlowered thereon by the hydraulic cylinder 12. The conveyor means 29 thentransport the annealed or otherwise treated tight coil 1b out of the waytowards a suitable storage area or other location. It is of particularsignificance to note that, at the same time that the treated coil 11) isbeing placed on the conveyor 29 another untreated coil 1 from theconveyor 2 is moved into position on the now horizontal pay off mandrel9 by the car 4 after which the aforedescribed operating cycle may berepeated.

The general arrangement and operation of the apparatus shown in FIGURES1 and 2 having been explained, attention is now particularly invited toFIGURE 2 which illustrates the internal structure of coiler unit 3.Cylindrical frame member or housing 21 is supported for rotation aboutan axis extending transversely of its own longitudinal axis uponantifriction bearings 24 and 25 on coaxial shafts 22 and 23. Further,the shaft 23 is rotatably supported in an antifriction bearing 26carried by a pillow block 27 and the shaft 22 is similarly rotatablysupported on an antifriction bearing carried by the pillow block 28.

The shaft 22 is equipped at its outer end with brake means comprising abrake drum 30 which is keyed or otherwise suitably connected to shaft 22and a brake shoe 36a cooperable with brake drum 30 in the usual manner.Shaft 22 is also provided with a bevel gear 31 at its inner end, thisgear being connected to the shaft as by keying. A second bevel gear 32is mounted on the inner end of the opposite coaxial shaft 23 which isoperably connected to the drive motor 16 by the coupling 20, gearreducer 19 and coupling 18. The pillow block 27, gear reducer 19 anddrive motor 16 are mounted upon a common base or support 33 erected upona suitable concrete foundation or the like. At the opposite side of thecoiler 3, the pillow block 28 and brake means 30, 30a are mounted upon acommon base or support 34, also set upon a suitable foundation.

Antifriction bearings 35 and 36 are mounted at the ends (top and bottomas seen in FIGURE 2) of the cylindrical frame member or housing 21. Thebearing 35 rotatably supports a circular turntable 37 which in turnsupports the bevel gear 38 which is positioned to mesh with theaforementioned gears 31 and 32. The clutch 85, which is clearly shown inFIGURE 4 and will be described in detail later, is adapted to connect ordisconnect the gear 38 to or from the turntable 37. In like manner, thebearing 36 supports a similar circular turntable 39 which is connectedthrough a clutch to the bevel gear 40 which likewise meshes with thebevel gears 31 and 32. It will be appreciated that the bevel gears 31,32, 38 and 40 provide a differential gear arrangement capable of notonly imparting opposite rotational movement to the expandable andcollapsible mandrels 9 and 15, but, and as will be further explainedlater, which can be differentially driven, by actuating the brake means30, 30a, so as to also rotate or revolve the cylindrical housing 21 andthe mandrels 9 and 15 as a unit about the common center line of shafts22 and 23 in a substantially vertical plane. When the clutches 85 and 86are engaged driving connections are established between the gears 38 and4t and turntables and when the clutches are disengaged the drivingconnections are broken and the turntables are free to rotate on thehousing 21. As will appear later, the clutches 85 and 86 may be operatedindependently of each other so that the turntables 37 and 39 and themandrels 9 and 15 carried thereby may be independently connected to anddisconnected from the drive motor 16.

A shaft 41 is rigidly connected to and extends through the turntable 37and supports and drives the smaller diameter mandrel 9 which is securedthereto and is rotatable therewith. Another similar shaft 42 is rigidlyconnected to and extends outwardly through turntable 39 for supportingand driving the larger diameter expandable mandrel 15.

The mandrels 9 and 15 are adapted to be selectively expanded andcontracted by means of suitable hydraulically actuated mechanisms (notshown) embodied in said mandrels. Hydraulic supply lines 43 and 44 (seeFIGURE 4) extend through a suitable bore in the shaft 22, rotaryhydraulic joints 47 at the inner end of shaft 22, and shafts 41 and 42to these mandrel actuating mechanisms. A second pair of hydraulic supplylines 45 and 46 extend through shaft 22 and rotary joints 47 to theclutches 85 and 86 respectively and con-duct to these clutches the fluidpressure which effects engagement and disengagement thereof.

As .seen in FIGURE 2, the hydraulic lines 43, 44, ,5 and 46 have threeway valves 43, 4a, 4 5 and 46 therein and are connected to a pressuresupply header 100. Fluid under pressure is supplied to header throughpipe 101 by pump 102 and pressure relief lines 43", 44", 45" and 40"extend from valves 43, 44, 45 and 46' back to the fluid supply sump orcontainer 103. The operation of the valves 45' and 4a to control theclutches 85 and 86 will be explained later.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, the vertically extending shaft 41, which iskeyed to the turntable 37 by a key 105, extends downwardly below theturntable and has mounted thereon and keyed thereto an upper clutchhousing member 106. A series of driven clutch plates or discs 107 have avertically slidable keyed or splined connection to the inner hub portion106' of the clutch housing 106. The lower clutch housing member 108 issecured to the gear 38 as by screws 109 and has an upwardly extendinginwardly splined cylindrical ring portion .110 in which the clutchdriving discs 111 are supported in interleaved relation with the drivendiscs 107. The outer peripheries of discs 111 are suitably notched toreceive the splines on the inner face of the ring portion 110 of theclutch housing member 108 in well-known manner.

The upper clutch housing member 106, in addition to supporting thedriven clutch discs 107, forms an annular fluid pressure chamber orcylinder .112 in which is mounted a vertically movable annular piston113. A fluid pres sure conducting passage 114 extends from the upperportion of chamber 112 into the shaft 41 and downwardly therethroughwhere it connects with the hydraulic supply line 45 through the rotaryhydraulic connection 47.

The clutch 86, which is adapted to effect driving connection between thegear 40 and the turntable 39, is similar in construction to that justdescribed and is similarly connected to the fluid pressure supply line46. When it is desired to effect driving connection between the gear 38and the turntable 37 (and thus also with the mandrel 9) the valve 45 isset in the posit-ion shown in FIGURE 2 in which a dire-ct connection isprovided between the fluid pressure header 100 and the pressure line 45.AS the pump 102 maintains fluid under the proper pressure in the header100 this pressure is applied against the top of the piston 113, movingit downwardly in the annular cylinder 112 and causing it to press thedriven clutch discs 107 and the driving clutch discs 111 tightlytogether to effect driving connection therebetween. When in thiscondition rotation of the gear 38 will be transmitted through the lowerclutch housing 108 and the driving discs 111 to the driven discs 107 andthe upper clutch housing 106. As housing 105 is keyed to shaft 41 and asshaft 41 is keyed to the inner hub of the turntable 37, when the clutch85 is thus engaged a positive driving connection is effected between thegear 38 and the turntable 37 and its mandrel 9.

To release the clutch 85 and thus permit the turntable 37 and mandrel 9to rotate freely on the bearing 35 without accompanying rotation of thegear 38, as is desired during a coil pay off operation, the valve 45 isturned clockwise through 90 from the position of FIGURE 2 so that thefluid pressure line 45 is connected to the pressure release line 45',thus relieving the fluid pressure in the cylinder 112 with accompanyingrelease of the engagement of the clutch 85.

The operation of the clutch an is similarly controlled through the valve46' which, as seen in FIGURE 2, is in clutch released position.Accordingly, when the apparatus is in the condition of FIGURE 2 and themotor 16 is driven, the turntable 37 and mandrel 9 will be positivelyrotated while the turntable 39 and mandrel will be disconnected from thedriving means and in idle condition.

6 Of course the valves 45' and 46 may be set as desired so that eitherone or both of the turntables 3'7 and 39 may be positively connected tothe drive means or released therefrom as desired.

Additionally, the cylindrical frame member 21 is provided with threeappropriately spaced socket or lock pin receiving members, forconvenience in illustration only two of which, 18 and 48', are shown inFIGURE 2. The sockets 48 and 48 are spaced apart 90 about the axis ofshaft 23 and the third socket is mounted on a suitable bracket onhousing 21 at 90 from the other two. These sockets cooperate with alocking pin 49, which is adapted to be advanced and retracted by ahydraulic cylinder 50 supported upon the pillow block 27. This lockingpin 49 may be selectively inserted in the three sockets 4 8 to fix theposition of the coiler unit 3 in the desired location about the axes ofshafts 22 and 23 for performing the operations of sliding a coil overand onto the smaller diameter mandrel 9 or removing a coil from thelarger mandrel 15 when these mandrels are in horizontal position, orpaying strip off from the smaller mandrel 9 or winding strip onto thelarger mandrel 15 when the mandrels are in vertical position.

Having described the physical structure of the coiler unit 3, its modeof operation will now be more specifically discussed. In order to rotateor revolve the mandrels 9 and 15 about the common axis of shafts 22 and23 into the desired position, either vertical or horizontal, it isnecessary first to apply the brake shoe 30a against the brake drum 30 soas to prevent rotation of the shaft 22 and permit drive of the geararrangement 31, 32, 38 and 40. Next the locking pin 49 is withdrawn fromthe pocket 48, 48' or the third similar pocket referred to above, bymeans of the hydraulic cylinder 50 to permit the coiler unit 3 to rotateabout the locked or braked bevel gear 31 when the bevel gear 32 isrotated by the .drive motor 16 through shaft 23, gear reducer 19, andcouplings 18 and 20.

Such rotation of the bevel gear 32, acting through the gears 38 and 40,will rotate the entire coiler unit 3 on the bearings 24 and 25 to bringthe expandable and collapsible mandrels 9 and 15 into the desiredoperating position. As soon as the aforesaid desired position of themandrels 9 and 15 is reached, the drive motor 16 is stopped and motorand the coiler unit 3 held stationary by application of the brake 17 onthe shaft of the motor. The locking pin 49 is moved by hydrauliccylinder 50 into the adjacent socket 48, 48' or the third similar socketreferred to above, thus locking the coiler unit 3 in the selectedangular position.

When the coiler unit 3 is in the vertical position seen in FIGURE 2 andthe brakes 30-30a and 17 are released, the drive motor 16, drivingthrough the gear reducer 19 and shaft 23, may be operated to rotatebevel gear 32 which, in turn, will rotate the bevel gears 38 and 40. Itwill be appreciated that since the brake means 30-3011 has been releasedthe bevel gear 31 is free to rotate and consequently, if the clutchesand 86 are engaged, the turntables 37 and 39, as well as the mandrels 9and 15 which are connected to bevel gears 38 and 40, will rotate, but inopposite directions. If either of the clutches 85 or 86 is disengaged byoperating the valve 45' or 46 then the corresponding turntable andmandrel will be disconnected from the drive gear 38 or 40 and willremain idle. Such disengagement of the clutches is preferably effectedwhen a mandrel is in its non-operating vertically downward position (seemandrel 15 in FIGURES 2 and 3) and when strip is being paid off of amandrel in its vertically upright position.

It will be understood that the previously described arrangement permitsselective vertical positioning and rotation or non-rotation of theexpandable mandrels 9 and 15 for either the paying off or tight windingon of a coil of metal strip. Moreover it permits rotating the coilerunit 3 as a whole to place the mandrels 9 and 15 in horizontal positionfor simultaneously receiving a coil to be treated and for discharging atreated coil. It is, of course, to be understood that other physicalconstructions which incorporate the inventive concepts but employdifferent means might be employed for accomplishing the desired result.One example of such a modified apparatus is illustrated in FIGURE 3.

As there are certain basic similarities between the embodiment of FIGURE3 and the apparatus previously described like reference numerals areemployed for substantially similar or analogous elements. In thismodified embodiment the cylindrical housing 21 is provided with a hollowtubular shaft 60 through which extends a shaft 61 supported for rotationat one end in a bearing 62 and operatively connected with the bevel gear32 of the set of bevel gears 31, 32, 38- and 40. This inner shaft member61 extends through shaft 60 into a gear train housing 63 and issupported at its other end in a bearing 64 mounted in the wall ofhousing 63.

The hollow tubular shaft 60 also extends into the housing 63 and issupported by bearings 63 and 65. The inner shaft 61 carries a spur gear66 freely mounted for rotation thereon. This gear 66 is also operativelyconnected to a coaxial freely rotatable pinion 67 by a connecting sleeve63. The pinion 67, in turn, meshes with a spur gear 69 fixedly mountedupon a shaft 70 which is supported in bearing blocks 71, 72 and 73 forrotation within the housing 63. This shaft 70 also has fixedly mountedthereon a wide pinion 74 which meshes with a wide face spur gear 75fixedly mounted on the hollow tubular shaft 60.

The drive motor 16 is connected through a suitable coupling 90 with ashaft 77 supported for rotation in bearings 76 and 78. This shaft 77 inturn is provided with a pair of spaced and freely rotatable pinions 79and 80. Intermediate the pinions 79 and 80 there is situated upon theshaft 77 a suitable clutch means 81 which permits selective coupling ofeither the pinion 79 or the pinion 80 to the shaft 77. Pinion 79 issecured to a sleeve 83 which in turn is connected to a releasable brake84 which is adapted to permit or prevent rotation of sleeve 83 andpinion 79 on shaft 77.

When the brake 84 is released and the Pinion 79 is connected with theshaft 77 by suitable actuation of the clutch 81, then this pinion, sinceit meshes with the gear 66, will, when motor 16 is operated, impartrotational movement to the entire coiler unit 3 and will swing theexpandable mandrels 9 and 15 in a substantially vertical plane into thedesired operating position as previously explained. In this instance,the power from the drive motor 16 is effective through the shaft 77,clutch 81, pinion 79, gear 66, pinion 67, gear 69, pinion 74 and gear 75to rotate shaft 60 and the housing 21 which is secured thereto. On theother hand, if the brake 84 is applied to prevent rotation of pinion 79and the clutch 81 is actuated so as to couple the pinion 81) to theshaft 77, then pinion 80, which engages with a gear 82 fixedly connectedwith the shaft 61, will impart rotational movement to the shaft 61 andbevel gear train 31, 32, 38, and 41), thereby imparting rotationalmovement about their own axes to one or both of the expandable andcollapsible mandrels 9 and 15, depending on whether one or both of theclutches 85 and 86 are engaged.

In this arrangement, and for the same reasons as aforedescribed inconjunction with the embodiment of FIG- URES 1 and 2, three sockets orbores 48 are provided on the housing 21. For convenience in illustrationonly one of these sockets is illustrated and in FIGURE 3 is shown inposition to cooperate with locking pin 49 to secure the coiler unit 3 inthe angular position in which both mandrels 9 and 15 extendhorizontally.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing discussion that in theembodiment of FIGURE 3 it is not necessary to provide a brake device forlocking one of the bevel gears of the set 31, 32, 38 and 40 to permitrotation of the entire coiler unit 3 as a whole since, in FIGURE 3,separate gear trains are provided one of which is capable of impartingrotational movement to the expandable mandrels 9 and 15 about their ownaxes and the other of which is constructed so that the coiler unit 3,including the mandrels 9 and 15, can be turned or rotated through 360 ina substantially vertical plane, in the same manner and for the samereasons explained in conjunction with the description of FIGURES l and2.

In its other respects the modified embodiment of FIG- URE 3 issubstantially similar to the embodiment of FIG- URES 1 and 2 and themanner of operation is substantially analogous to what has beenpreviously described herein.

In FIGURE 5 there is illustrated a modified form of my apparatus forprocessing and handling coils of strip metal which is particularlydesigned for receiving tight wound coils of strip, disposed with theiraxes horizontal, from a conveyor and rapidly and accurately positioningthe coils for, and supporting them during, pay off of the strip tofurther processing apparatu such as a temper mill. In the apparatus ofFIGURE 5 a chain conveyor 121) is adapted to bring tight coils 121 intoposition to be picked up on the elevator 122 of a coil hoist andtransfer car 123 which may be generally similar to the car 4 and itselevator or platform 7 shown in FIGURE 1.

The coil handling unit of FIGURE 5 includes a generally cylindricalhousing 124 which carries coil supporting platforms or turntables 125and 126 at it opposite ends. Expandable mandrels 127 and 128 are carriedby and are rotatable with the coil support tables 125 and 126respectively. Clutches, similar to clutches 85 and 86 of FIGURES 1-4,are provided for independently controlling the driving connection to themandrels 127 and 128. The housing 124 is supported on a horizontal shaftor trunnion 129 for rotation about its transverse axis. The drive motor130 is connected through a suitable gear box 131, which may be similarto that illustrated in FIGURE 3, so that the housing 124, coil supports125 and 126, and mandrels 127 and 128 may be rotated as a unit about thehorizontal axis of trunnion 129, and whereby the mandrels 127 and 128may also be rotated about their own axes when the clutches referred toabove are engaged. A four high type rolling mill 132 is located toreceive strip from a coil which is supported on mandrel 128 when theapparatus is in the condition seen in FIGURE 5.

As illustrated, strip from the coil 133, which is supported on themandrel 128, is being fed through the mill 132 and the mandrel 128 andsupporting table 126 are preferably connected to the driving mechanismand rotated at the desired speed. While the coil 133 is being fed to themill 132 a coil 134 has been removed from the conveyor 12% by thetransfer car 123. The car will be moved on its tracks 123' until coil134 is properly positioned on the now stationary non-rotating mandrel127 which is then expanded. The elevator 122 will then be lowered andcar 123 retracted. After the coil 123 has been completely paid off theentire unit will be rotated counterclockwise as seen in FIGURE 5 throughso that the positions of the mandrels 127 and 128 will be reversed. Thestrip of coil 134 will then be properly positioned to be fed through themill 132 and the mandrel 127 is started to rotate to feed the strip tothe mill. While this operation is taking place the coil car 123 willpick up another coil 121 from the conveyor 120 and position it on thenow stationary mandrel 128. This cycle is repeated for as long as theinstallation is maintained in operation.

Substantially the same apparatus as shown in FIGURE 5 may also be usedfor coiling strip as it is delivered from a rolling mill or otherprocessing operation and for transferring the so formed coils to aconveyor for removal. Such an operation will be understood if it isassumed that the strip in FIGURE 5 is leaving the mill 132 and is movingin a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 5 andis being wound onto the driven mandrel 128. In such a coiling operation,when the complete coil is formed the housing 124 and the mandrelssupported thereby will be rotated in clockwise direction to reverse thepositions of the mandrels 127 and 128 and the coil just formed will thenbe removed from the mandrel 128, rotation of which has been stopped, bythe car 23 and transferred to the chain conveyor 120 for removal.Meanwhile the end of the strip from the mill is secured to mandrel 127for forming another coil.

While there are shown and described herein certain presently preferredembodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied andpracticed within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

11. Apparatus for processing and handling coils of strip metal includinga frame member mounted on a pair of shafts for pivotal movement about asubstantially horizontal axis, releasable locking means for holding saidframe member against such pivotal movement, a pair of oppositelydirected mandrels mounted for rotation on said frame member and havingtheir axes extending at 90 to said horizontal axis of said frame member,and drive means adapted selectively to rotate said mandrels about theiraxes, while said frame member is held stationary by said locking meansor to turn said frame member together with said mandrels as a unit aboutsaid horizontal axis of said frame member when said locking member isreleased.

2. Apparatus for processing and handling coils of strip metal as definedin claim l including oppositely facing coil supporting turntablesrotatably supported on said frame member coaxially and rotatably withsaid mandrels, said turntables being horizontally disposed when saidaxes of said mandrels are vertically disposed.

3. Apparatus for handling coils of strip metal as defined in claim 2wherein said means for rotating said mandrels rotates them in oppositedirections.

4. Apparatus for processing and handling coils of strip metal as definedin claim 1 wherein said mandrels are of different diameters.

5. Apparatus for processing and handling coils of strip metal as definedin claim 1 wherein said mandrels are expandable and collapsible.

6. Apparatus for processing and handling coils of strip metal as definedin claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said mandrels about theiraxes is adapted to rotate one of said mandrels while the other remainsstationary.

7. Apparatus for processing and handling coils of strip metal as definedin claim 1 including a pair of supporting 1Q shafts extending coaxiallywith said horizontal axis and projecting from opposite sides of saidframe member, a base structure for the apparatus, bearing means on saidbase structure for said supporting shafts, the inner ends of said shaftsbeing spaced apart and having bevel gears mounted thereon, a pair ofoppositely extending mandrel shafts rotatably supported on said framemember for carrying said mandrels, said mandrel shafts being coaxiallydisposed relative to each other and having their inner ends spacedapart, bevel gears mounted on said inner ends of said mandrel shafts andmeshing with said bevel gears on said supporting shafts to form adifferential gear arrangement, means for driving one of said supportingshafts, and brake means for preventing rotation of the other of saidsupporting shafts.

8. Apparatus for processing and handling coils of strip metal as definedin claim 1 wherein said means for rotating said mandrels and said meansfor turning said frame member about said horizontal axis include adifferential gear means, a motor connected to one of said supportingshafts for driving said differential gear means, and means for brakingthe other of said supporting shafts whereby said differential gear meanswill effect independent and opposite rotation of said mandrels.

9. Apparatus for handling coils of strip metal as defined in claim 1wherein said means for rotating said mandrels about their axes includesindependently operable clutch means between said rotating means and saidmandrels whereby either one of said mandrels may be rotated while theother mandrel remains stationary.

1t Apparatus for processing and handling coils of strip metal as definedin claim 1 in which one of said supporting shafts is tubular and issecured to said frame member and including a second shaft extendingthrough said tubular supporting shaft, driving gear means between saidsecond shaft and said mandrels, a drive motor, and means for selectivelyconnecting said tubular shaft or said second shaft to said drive motor.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,202,883 6/1940Yoder 242 X 3,021,086 2/1962 Teplitz 24280 FOREIGN PATENTS 872,4834/1953 Germany.

FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

N. L. MINTZ, Assistant Examiner.

1. APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING AND HANDLING COILS OF STRIP METAL INCLUDINGA FRAME MEMBER MOUNTED ON A PAIR OF SHAFTS FOR PIVOTAL MOVENMENT ABOUT ASUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS, RELEASABLE LOCKING MEANS FOR HOLDING SAIDFRAME MEMBER AGAINST SUCH PIVOTAL MOVEMENT, A PAIR OF OPPOSITELYDIRECTED MANDRELS MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ON SAID FRAME MEMBER AND HAVINGTHEIR AXIS EXTENDING AT 90* TO SAID HORIZONTAL AXIS OF SAID FRAMEMEMBER, AND DRIVE MEANS ADAPTED SELECTIVELY TO ROTATE SAID MANDRELSABOUT THEIR AXES, WHILE SAID FRAME MEMBER IS HELD STATIONARY BY SAIDLOCKING MEANS OR TO TURN SAID FRAME MEMBER TOGETHER WITH SAID MANDRELSAS A UNIT ABOUT SAID HORIZONTAL AXIS OF SAID FRAME MEMBER WHEN SAIDLOCKING MEMBER IS RELEASED.